Help Scotty decide on an Expedition Moto...

[SOAZ]

I would give a LOT for a 525exc to be parked in my garage. I agree with most of what you say, but the one thing that is not easily changed is the geometry. I really don't like it on the L. It seems squirly to me. Even the old xr600's seem more stable. I think its the front tube angle. Its upright so turning on the roads feels good, but it seems to like washing out offroad.
But, thats all personal feel so I can't really knock that. Hell, I used to swear that my KLX300 was the best handling bike, and it was to me since I was so comfortable on that little sucker. I could keep up with anything... as long as there weren't any straight lines. (that thing was a slow pig!!!!) :Wow1:
Oh BTW:
I can't agree more, The "button" is magical!!!!!!!! Anything I buy in the future will have it. My XR is easy as pie to start, BUT when your tired and when it takes two kicks to start, not bad BUT... That still leaves you 50 yards behind your buddy with the button who is already GONE!

 

[Hltoppr]

Alright Scott....

It's time to put this beast to bed...

Here you go....a 140mph dirtbike...the new KTM 950 Super Enduro.

http://www.950superenduro-r.com/

-H-

 

[goodtimes]

Alright Scott....

It's time to put this beast to bed...

Here you go....a 140mph dirtbike...the new KTM 950 Super Enduro.

http://www.950superenduro-r.com/

-H-

ehh...that thing sucks.

:elkgrin:

 

[Clutch]

ehh...that thing sucks.

:elkgrin:

You're just kicking yourself because you got the BMW instead....

 

[goodtimes]

You're just kicking yourself because you got the BMW instead....

Actually, I am quite happy with the little GS. Not to say I wouldn't like to have a KTM 950 parked next to it...and a 525...and a K1200R sport &/or a GSXR....and a [blah blah blah] ...

I just need a bigger garage, and a fatter wallet.

 

[Clutch]

[blah blah blah] ...

I just need a bigger garage, and a fatter wallet.

You and me both....

 

[winterhk]

Brian, Welcome to ExPo. Glad to see you made it here. Scott and I were just discussing the bikes tonight again, and he and I were agreeing that for us, a bias towards the "dirt" side of the spectrum will ultimately be the choice, as it would be too frustrating to "lack" in this area, even if it requires offering up a considerable compromise in the "street-ability" of the machine. Longer travel, knobbier tire selection, a bit more squirrelly... whatever it takes. Hopefully we'll get to meet up soon

Chris (fellow Prescottonian)

Hey Chris, thanks for the welcome! I've got a busy couple of weeks ahead b/c of the San Felipe (now Ensenada - Santo Tomas) 250, but we should meet up at some point.

Has Scott chosen a bike? I've got some you can ride...

Here's a bunch of pics, since threads are always better with pics. :bike_rider: I hope it's not too many, I don't know how this board feels about saturating threads with pics...

My trusty XRL has gotten me all throughout the Western US and Canada and Mexico without a hiccup. I would absolutely choose this bike (set up correctly) for RTW, TAT, Great Divide, Baja, etc over anything else. But for prerunning a Baja race, I would choose the XRR over anything else. I love the confidence that comes from XR's, but a 525 with an oil cooler is more than capable and certainly fast enough.

525 EXC race bike in Baja (800 miles in three days, campin off the bikes):

XRL in Baja (multiple 800+ mile trips, camping off bikes):

In Canada (6000 miles in 22 days off road, camping off bike):

XRR ready to go down to Baja for the SF250:

And the attachment is Ignore Amos' 525 race bike for the Baja 500.

 

[SOAZ]

The shots of your baja trip look amazing!! Got any more pics. I'm so jealous I think I'm going to ride up to Crown King on my XR just to give myself a little bit of that adventurous feel until I make it to Baja again!!!!! :roost:

 

[winterhk]

The shots of your baja trip look amazing!! Got any more pics. I'm so jealous I think I'm going to ride up to Crown King on my XR just to give myself a little bit of that adventurous feel until I make it to Baja again!!!!! :roost:

Thanks man. It was seriously fun! Here's a few more...

We ended up having much more than our planned Cameron Steele come through our pits. It was great!

Here's a Ride Report form the Desert Assassins Pit: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=182801&highlight=lobster

My pics can be found through My Website > My Smugmug > MC Pics > Baja Pics

 

[Scott Brady]

Brian,

Awesome pictures, quite an inspiration. I would sure like to see the 525 up close.

 

[Clutch]

Ignore Amos, some of the other Tucson boys, and I just watched Last Man Standing a few nights ago.

Is that Josh and his five two five in the pictures?

When are you guys 'running the 500?

I might be going for the 1000, we will see what happens. I do have another trip planned for Baja in October...I don't know who I am going with though.

Hopefully I'll have my 2008 300(250?) by then.

 

[lionsbreath]

KLR 650 the only true choice here. If you factor in cost, after market supportand the fact that the USMC runs a desile version of the buike I have on and ride the piss out of it. And no other bike has the same fuel range.

 

[lionsbreath]

P.s. Check out KLR650.net
bang for the buck is with the klr I love the bmw but when it came down to it the klr is a mor rounded bike and I can have it expedition ready new bike and all for just the price of the competion and carry more fuel to boot.

 

[66Landy]

I'm just visiting the 2-wheel section, but truly enjoyed reading this thread as I'm considering commuting to work on a motorcycle and want it to double as a weekend toy as well. My house is down a long, semi-steep non-public dirt road (read ruts, rocks and fallen tree limbs only cleared if I do it myself). I'm thinking dual sport so I can take it on the occassional weekend trip as well. I'm 6'2" and about 185. Pacific North West weather needs to be considered, so lots of light/medium rain, and some heavy, to ride through. From what I've read, it seems like the KLR would be a good bet, followed closely by the BMW. No one has mentioned the V-Strom, why?

 

[Clutch]

No one has mentioned the V-Strom, why?

Well, I think in the original post he mention he wanted it for pre-running baja. Scott needed a do it all bike, but, when you do that, those type of bikes tend to be bad all over the place, not really good on the street...and kinda crappy in the off road too. A do it all, is ok for cruising around, I would be annoyed quickly with one. For every job there is a right tool and a wrong one.

I would see the V-Strom getting over whelmed, right quick and all of it's plastic bits getting shredded. BUT....they make decent Adventure bikes, as long as the terrian isn't too gnarly. It would be like trying to use a Subaru Outback as race car and a rock crawler at the same time. Those Outbacks are ok in twistie tarmac and ok on graded gravel roads, but if anything gets gnarlier either way it is a poor choice.

For me at least, I would NOT pick the KLR or BMW for preunning Baja. You need a bike with mucho suspension and fairly light weight...in other words something that can take 100 miles of 4-5 foot deep whoops running at 60-70+ mph. Yeah yeah...some say they will just cruise along. But when you get a bunch of guys together, you start racing corner to corner.


I wont name any names,but, I know a guy around here, with German made 650, it gets over whelm in slightly moderate difficult terrian. I would see Baja eating that bike alive. Which of course, those bikes aren't made for such a thing.

Yes, I am a KTM geek, but, this is the weapon you need for Baja..
A KTM 525 with a LC4 motor cramed into it...now that looks like fun! Heck throw some smoothies on there and blast back & forth to work. I know my license wouldn't last long.